Three views of the sun's path
- A polar sun path diagram (the 'globe view') for reading solar altitude and azimuth.
- A 3D view that makes the path over the site easy to explain to a client.
- A section view: a south-to-north cut through the sky dome that shows how high the sun climbs.
Cloud cover matters too
Geometry alone overstates the sun in cloudy climates. C4B pairs the sun path with a monthly overview of daytime cloud cover, and projects can overlay future climate scenarios on it.
See your site's climate before design begins
Pin any location and get climate, comfort and preliminary energy insight your whole team can read. Start with a 7-day free trial, or book a 30-minute demo.
Frequently asked questions
What is a sun path diagram used for?
It shows where the sun is in the sky at every hour of the year, which helps decide building orientation, window placement and shading, and where outdoor spaces get sun or shade.
Do I need to enter coordinates?
No. Search for an address or click on the map; C4B uses that point's coordinates.
Does C4B also show solar radiation?
Yes. The solar radiation analysis shows direct, diffuse and global radiation, and the PV analyses show the site's solar electricity potential.
Learn the concepts
How to read a sun path diagram
Altitude, azimuth, date and hour lines, polar and cylindrical charts, and how shading masks test overhangs and fins.
GHI, DNI and DHI
What GHI, DNI and DHI mean, how they relate, their units and data sources, and how they feed façade, shading and PV design.
Site climate analysis for architecture
A step-by-step method for the climate layer of an architectural site analysis: where to get the data, what to read, what to put on the sheet and how each finding becomes a design move.
Climate-responsive design
The principles of climate-responsive design, and the strategies that suit hot-dry, hot-humid, temperate and cold climates, grounded in building science sources.
Related features
Solar radiation and PV potential
Direct, diffuse and global solar radiation, yearly PV potential, optimal panel orientation and geothermal ground temperatures.
Wind rose
Annual and daily wind roses showing wind direction and speed, by season and time of day.
Psychrometric chart and passive design
An hourly psychrometric chart and the share of hours covered by each passive design strategy.